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Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Paw-some ways to include pups in the holidays (and find out which states have the merriest dogs!)

I love the holiday season — the cold weather, the yummy food, and of course, all of the festivities! You know who else loves them too? My dog House, I'm thinking it may be because of all the extra lovin' and gifts he gets from the family.

It turns out that I'm not the only pet mama to spoil her pup during this time of year. That's why I love this super cute website called TheNosePrint.com from Big Heart Pet Brands (the makers of Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, Canine Carry Outs, and Milo's Kitchen). They really know how to celebrate the holidays with your pup!

On TheNosePrint.com, check out some of the fun doggy do-it-yourself ideas they've dreamed up:

Get it? (I love a good pun!) And this treat is sure to be a hit with House's Slobbery kisses? Check. Yummy treat? Check. Yes, it's pretty much the best gift idea ever.

I'm also loving the homemade paw-print ornament. I've seen these with children's handprints before. Why not have your fur child make an ornament too?

Other great homemade doggy gifts include a treat bouquet, a sweet treat jar, and a ho-ho-howliday treat bag. Yes, House is going to have a very holiday break.

The NosePrint.com also asked 3,000 Americans about their dog-related holiday habits, including whether their dog is involved in gift-giving, stocking-stuffing, Christmas sweater-wearing, and other holiday traditions.

What they found is that Americans really LOVE their pets. For instance, did you know 71% of dog parents give gifts to their pups? Have you completed your Christmas doggy shopping yet?

According to the survey, here are the top 5 reasons people give gifts to their dog:

1. To express love to my dog: 72%

2. Because it's fun for me: 60%

3. To help my dog feel included like a family member: 54%

4. To give my dog a moment of happiness: 53%

5. To feel closer and bond with my dog: 43%

For me, I like to give presents to House because of all of these reasons. He's such an important part of the family — I can't imagine the holidays without him.

The study also shared how often dogs are included into popular Christmas traditions:

1. 48% of dog parents hang a Christmas stocking for their dog.

2. 43% of dog parents include a dog in a photo for a family holiday card.

3. 32% post photos of their dog on social media with a holiday message.

4. 29% dress up their dog in a holiday-themed costume or outfit.

5. 22% make or buy dog-themed holiday decorations.

For photos and instructions on how to add more dog-related fun to your home holiday traditions, check out these cool projects they have here:

paige and kat

Paige founded this blog as The Nurse Mommy in 2008. Katrina joined the team in 2012 and in 2014 we changed that to Top Notch Material as we became more of a lifestyle blog.
Paige lives in Florida, and Katrina lives in Wisconsin. There are a few other writers who occasionally post.
We focus on family friendly products, beauty/fashion, technology and we both love to travel and share our experiences. If you see a lot of food that's because Katrina has become an accomplished cook over the last few years. Her recipes are a big part of this site and have become some of our readers favorite snacks and meals.
Please see our media kit for more information, if you have questions please feel free to contact either Paige or Katrina.
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